HS Volleyball: Fairhaven wins South title

PEMBROKE — The last two years, Ashley Brown and Kay Mullen had supporting roles in Fairhaven's back-to-back Div. 2 South Sectional girls volleyball championships.

Laurie Los

PEMBROKE — The last two years, Ashley Brown and Kay Mullen had supporting roles in Fairhaven's back-to-back Div. 2 South Sectional girls volleyball championships.

This year, they shared the lead role in guiding the top-seeded Blue Devils to their third straight South title with Saturday's 25-17, 25-18, 25-21 victory over No. 6 Duxbury at Pembroke High.

"For Kay and Ashley, they were a part of that team the last two years and for them, this is more special," said Fairhaven head coach Karen Arsenault. "They definitely were in the shadows of some big players in the past. They got overlooked in the past, but they were such good supporting role players. For them, they've really had to make adjustments and they have, and I'm really happy for them."

The Blue Devils (20-1) will take on the winner of Minneshaug and Longmeadow at 7 Tuesday night at Hudson High in the Div. 2 State Semifinals.

"I'm just so excited for them to go the semis again," Arsenault said. "I'm hoping we can advance."

When Fairhaven graduated standouts Kara Charette, Kayli Moniz and Kelsey Perron-Sovik from last year's team, there were doubts the Blue Devils would be able to defend their South championship. But Brown took over the setting duties from Perron-Sovik and Mullen emerged as the team's go-to hitter. The Blue Devils also got a boost up front from sophomore hitter Katie Leidhold.

"It's so different," Mullen said. "Kara would always dominate and it was everyone's job to help out. This year it's not just one person.

"No one thought we would do it. It's just amazing."

"The first two (championships) we had Kara, Kayli and Kelsey," said Brown. "This year everyone expected us not to make it this far, but everyone was wrong. No one thought we were going to be able to do this, but we did. It's feels incredible. I can't even explain my emotions right now."

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first game and never looked back. They clinched the 25-17 win with a kill down the right sideline by Mullen.

Duxbury, a second-year program making its first South final appearance, came out strong to start the second set and led 7-6 before Fairhaven responded with a 14-8 run to take a 20-15 lead. Back-to-back kills by Leidhold put the Blue Devils ahead 24-17. They got the 25-18 win on a missed serve by Duxbury, one of the team's nine in the match.

"We were expecting a fight, but a little longer fight, but we got off to a really rough start in the first and that definitely affected us," said Duxbury coach Pam Thomas. "We're a second-year program so we were very excited to be here. We fought very hard to be here, we deserved to be here, but they just outplayed us."

Fairhaven lead by as much as seven in the third set, before the Dragons (16-6) made a late run to pull within 24-21, but Leidhold's hit off Duxbury's double block fell for the winning point to clinch the match.

"We always try to hit into the block and then it just goes out of bounds," Mullen said. "We just keep swinging and swinging, and we know we're going to get points."

Leidhold powered Fairhaven's offense with 14 kills while Mullen added 10 and Brown dished out 23 assists to go along with 23 digs.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Blue Devils will be playing in their third straight Div. 2 State Semifinal. Two years ago, they beat Melrose, but lost to Medfield in the finals. Last year Fairhaven lost in the semifinals to eventual state champion Marlboro.

CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE: Each time Duxbury made a run in the three sets, Fairhaven responded and didn't get rattled. "We know what to expect," said Mullen, who has played in three straight South finals. "We know it's not going to be easy. We know they're not going to just bump the balls over. We know it's going to be hard-hit balls and we have to stay with it or else we're not going to make it that far."

ARSENAULT: "I think with this group of kids and the expectation out in the community and the school being how are they going to fare without the big three Ks (Kara, Kayli and Kelsey) from last year? I think that there was a little bit more pressure in years past for me anyway because I really had the goods and knew it and had to do something with it. Not that my expectations weren't as high, but this has been such a pleasant surprise to see them grow as a team."

THOMAS: "We're very happy with the way we ended our season. I couldn't ask for more dedicated or hard-working kids. They gave it their all. I'm very happy and proud of my team."

SOUTHCOASTVARSITY.COM STAR OF THE GAME: Leidhold had a great all-around game with 14 kills, 22 digs and 18 service points with six aces. She also slammed down the winning point in the third set.

NEW ROLE: Playing mostly as a defensive specialist and the team's off setter last year, Brown rose to the occasion when asked to become the team's primary setter and direct the offense this year. "Ashley is up for anything," Arsenault said. "I could put her anywhere and she is going to make something happen. She stepped right into that like she has been doing it forever."

LEADER ON THE COURT: Arsenault was pleased with the leadership of Mullen, who notched 22 digs. "To see her grow from sophomore year where she would let the ball drop in front of her to now, it's just a great accomplishment for her," Arsenault said.

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